Stadium Compassion

continued  Gamlin, Mitchell's nurse, is equally critical. "They won't let me come in free to maintain his ventilator. I have to pay, too, and I think that's kind of unfair. I think there should be an exception for that. My other problem is that handicapped seating is up under the overhang, and he's kind of tall, so he can't even see the scoreboard."

Connie Porter, a Hillcrest resident, sits alone in the handicapped section while the Raiders warm up on the field. The game will not start for another hour yet. Porter has been slowly disabled by osteo-arthritis, but she still uses public transportation to attend Chargers games. "I've been a fan since they came to San Diego in 1961. Balboa Stadium wasn't a problem because I wasn't in a wheelchair then. It's mostly goin' out of the stadium, that's a problem.

"Some people can be kind of rude, and everybody's tryin' to get out really fast. Since they've remodeled the handicapped seating areas, it's been perfect. But it's hard to leave. I just try to be patient. Lately, I've been waiting for a while after the game is over. I just finish my Coke and let those who feel they have to be first go ahead and leave first."